SEVEN new officers are set to hit the streets of Inverclyde as part of a Police Scotland recruitment drive.

The news was revealed by Chief Inspector David Docherty, the senior officer for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, at a meeting of Inverclyde Council's police and fire scrutiny panel.

Chief Inspector Docherty was responding to a question from the panel's chair, Councillor David Wilson, around policing resources in the area.

He said that 21 new officers were to be assigned to the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde division, with one-third of them dedicated to Inverclyde.

Councillor Wilson, speaking after the meeting, told the Tele: "I think this is good news, and it wasn't in the [meeting] papers, so it is hot off the press.

"The Chief Inspector said there were 21 new officers and we would be getting seven officers which is about one third of the division."

Councillor Wilson said he welcomed the news and also the fact that the total crime figures had fallen in Inverclyde by 13.3 per cent for the period between April 1 and June 30.

He said: "I am delighted to get these extra police officers. We do need to replace officers when they retire.

"In general crime figures have reduced and this will help this good progress."

It is not know when the new officers will start in post.

Although total crime figures have fallen year-on-year in Inverclyde, a report prepared for the panel's latest meeting also revealed that recorded hate crime has risen sharply, from nine in April, May and June of 2023 to 39 in the same period this year.

The same report revealed that recorded violent crimes have also gone up by 4.2 per cent to 222, which police attributed to an increase in minor violence.

Common assaults rose by six per cent year-on-year to a total of 193, but crimes of serious violence and robberies fell on the 2023 total.

The report revealed that around half of all reported violent crimes in the area occurred in private spaces such as houses and flats.